Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1823.pdf/14

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Literary Gazette, 8th February 1823, Page 91

UNKNOWN FEMALE HEAD. I know not of thy history, thou sad Yet beautiful faced Girl:—the chesnut braid Bound darkly round thy forehead, the blue veins Wandering in azure light, the ivory chin Dimpled so archly, have no characters Graven by memory; but thy pale cheek, Like a white rose on which the sun hath looked Too wildly warm, (is not this passion's legend?) The drooping lid whose lash is bright with tears, A lip which has the sweetness of a smile But not its gaiety—do not these bear The searched footprints sorrow leaves in passing O'er the clear brow of youth?—It may but be An idle thought, but I have dreamed thou wert A captive in thy hopelessness: afar From the sweet home of thy young infancy, Whose image unto thee is as a dream Of fire and slaughter, I can see thee wasting, Sick for thy native air, loathing the light And cheerfulness of men; thyself the last Of all thy house, a stranger and a slave!